Suspenders



Feb. 2 2, 1938 H. REITER 9,343,

SUSPENDERS Filed May ,6 1937 INAVENTORI @rrqirz Rafe,

BY I ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a suspender.

More specifically, the invention proposes a new and novel construction of a pair of suspenders which permits free movement of the shoulders in any direction after the suspenders have been engaged in position thereon.

Still further the invention proposes the use of an elongated flexible sheet of material which extends transversely of the shoulder and back straps of a pair of suspenders for forming a single unit of the shoulder and back straps.

Still further it is proposed that the top edge portion of the flexible sheet material be provided with a pair of spaced openings through which flexible sheet material elements may be looped for securing the shoulder straps to the flexible sheet material.

As a further object of the invention it is proposed to provide a pair of closely spaced bottom openings in the bottom edge portion of the elongated flexible sheet material through which a second set of flexible sheet material elements may be looped for holding the top end of the back straps in position on the elongated flexible sheet material.

As a further object of the invention it is proposed to construct a pair of suspenders to have the back straps spaced closely together for convenient attachment to the buttons on the top edge of a pair of trousers, and to have a pair of spaced shoulder straps which are spaced from each other for convenient engagement over ones shoulders.

As a still further object of the invention, it is proposed to form the top openings in adjacent lapel portions on said elongated flexible sheet material which have their adjacent edges extending away from each other and forming a junction point at the bottom so that a means may be provided between the adjacent edges of the lapel portions for drawing them together for changing the spacing of the openings.

Still further it is proposed that the adjacent edges of the lapel portions be provided with horizontal aligned openings through which a stringer may be engaged for holding the lapel portions in their various adjusted positions.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the append-- ed claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:'

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pair of suspenders constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 shows'the elongated flexible sheet material means per'se.

Fig. 3 is an end view looking in the direction of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is aview similar to a portion of Fig. 1

but showing a modification of the invention.

Thefour-swing suspender, according to this invention, comprises shoulder straps l0 having their front ends provided with-trouser engaging elements II. A pair of back straps l2 are provided at their lower ends with'trouser engaging elements l3. An elongated flexible sheet material means l4 extends transversely of the straps I!) and -l 2 and has a pair of widely spaced top openings I 5 and a pair of closely spaced bottom openings l6. Flexible sheet material elements I! are 2 looped through the openings I5 and I6, and are respectively secured to the upper and back ends of the back and shoulder straps.

The shoulder straps -l 0 are provided near their front ends with elements lll of conventional construction which permit adjustment of the length of the shoulder straps ID to permit the trousers to be properly positioned upon ones body. The trouser engaging elements ll are provided at one of their ends with openings ll which may be engaged upon the buttons on the front top edge portion of a pair of trousers. The other end of these trouser engaging elements are secured to the front end of the shoulder straps Ill.

The back straps I2 are provided at their lower 3 ends with trouser engaging elements l3 which are. securely attached thereto by means of stitches B An opening l3 is formed in each of the trouser engaging elements to permit them: to be positioned on the buttons on the top back edge portion of a pairof trousers.

The elongated flexible sheet material meansv l4 comprises a piece of leather or other similar flexible material of substantially oval shape which is provided near one of its edges with the widely spaced top openings IS. The close- 1y spaced openings l6 are provided near the other edge of the material means l4 and substantially between the openings I5. While the drawing shows that the elongated flexible sheet materialmeans is of substantially oval shape, any other shape may be used.

The flexible sheet material elements I! have enlarged end portions I! and narrow intermediate portions l'l for conveniently attaching the 5 shoulder and back straps to the elongated flexible sheet material means l4. Two of the flexible elements are passed through the widely spaced top openings [5 until their narrow intermediate portions l'l are engaged in the openings I5. Then the enlarged end portions l'l are brought together with the shoulder straps l0 engaged therebetween, and stitches l8 are provided for holding the shoulder straps in position between the adjacent faces of the enlarged end portions H The attachment of the back straps I2 is similar to the attachment of the shoulder straps H]. The flexible sheet material elements I! are passed through the bottom closely spaced openings it until the narrow intermediate portions I'E are engaging the openings l6. Then the enlarged end portions I! are brought together and the back straps l2 engage there-between. Stitches H! are used for holding the back straps E2 in position between the adjacent faces of the enlarged end portions H According to the modification shown in Fig. 4 an elongated flexible sheet material means I4 is provided at its bottom edge with a pair of closely Spaced openings l6. The top edge of the flexible sheet material means is provided with a pair of adjacent lapel portions I l having their adjacent edges M extending away from each other and forming a junction point 14 at the bottom of the edges l l The top edge of the lapel portions I ia are provided with a pair of widely spaced top openings 15 and a means is provided for drawing the adjacent edges M of the lapel'portions l4 together to different distances for changing the 4 spacing of the openings l5. This means comprises vertically spaced aligned openings formed in the material of the elongated flexible sheet l4 along the adjacent edges W of the lapel portions Hi A stringer element 2| is adapted to be passed through the openings 20 and have their ends tied together to hold the lapel portions in their adjusted positions for controlling the spacing of the openings I5.

The lapel portions l4 may be let out to a position indicated by the dot and dash lines l4 (see Fig. 4) in the following manner. The ends of the stringer element 2| are untied to permit the lapel portions 54 to be drawn apart. After the lapel portions M have been drawn apart the required distance, the stringer element 2! is again tied to hold the lapel portions M against spreading apart further. The stringer element may be a cord, piece of string, or similar holding means. In other respects this form of the invention is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A four-swing suspender, comprising shoulder straps having their front ends provided with trouser engaging elements, a pair of back straps having their lower ends providedwith trouser engaging elements, elongated flexible sheet material means extending transversely of said straps and having a pair of widely spaced top openings and a pair of closely spaced bottom openings, flexible sheet material elements looped through said openings and respectively secured to the upper and back ends of said back and shoulder straps, whereby said back straps are closely spaced for convenient attachment of the trouser engaging elements to the back of the trousers and said shoulder straps are widely spaced for extending over ones shoulders, said widely spaced top openings being formed in adjacent lapel portions having their adjacent edges extending away from each other and forming a junction point at the bottom thereof, and means for drawing said edges together to different'distances for changing the spacing of said openings.

2. A four-swing suspender, comprising shoulder straps having their front ends provided with trouser engaging elements, a pair of back straps having their lower ends provided with trouser engaging elements, elongated flexible sheet material means extending transversely of said straps and having a pair of widely spaced top openings and a pair of closely spaced bottom openings, flexible sheet material elements looped through said openings and respectively secured to the upper and back ends of said back and shoulder straps,

whereby said back straps are closely spaced for convenient attachment of the trouser engaging elements to the back of the trousers and said shoulder straps are widely spaced for extending over ones shoulders, said widely spaced top openings being formed in adjacent lapel portions having their adjacent edges extending away from each other and forming a junction point at the bottom thereof, and means for drawing said edges together to different distances for changing the spacing of said openings, said means comprising stringer elements engaging through said vertically spaced aligned openings in the material of said flexible sheet material means along the adjacent edges of said lapel portions.

. REI'I'ER. 

